"I was carsick, sleeping. How would I know what he was doing?" Yan Zhen quickly changed the subject. "And I haven't settled the score with you yet. Why didn't you let me win the last round? Are you happy to see your sister lose like that?"

Yan Zhao turned his head, squinting at her in the sunlight, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Chen Huaixu's paying, what are you afraid of? Don't tell me you don’t want to waste his money, but not your brother's?"

Infuriated, Yan Zhen lunged at him playfully. Yan Zhao dodged, and the siblings tumbled together, their laughter echoing through the air.

After enjoying a barbecue by the lake, the afternoon was free for everyone to do as they pleased. Some went hiking, others played cards. Feeling sleepy again, Yan Zhen returned to her room and slept through the afternoon. When she opened her eyes, night had fallen. From her hotel balcony, she looked down at the vibrant lights lining the lake shore, their colors bleeding into the darkness.

After freshening up, she hurried upstairs. The hotel's top floor boasted a large open-air terrace with a panoramic view of the mountains, streams, and lake. Lu Jingxuan had fought with the co-investors to build this extravagant terrace, causing delays and eventually leading to a break in the funding chain.

Now, looking at the view, Yan Zhen conceded that he did have some taste, albeit at a steep price.

The group had been drinking and chatting on the terrace for a while. Seeing Yan Zhen arrive, someone chuckled. "You're just in time."

"For what?"

"We were about to start the third round of punishments. If you'd been any later, Chen Huaixu would have had to suffer alone."

Yan Zhen felt a flicker of unease. "What's the punishment?"

Lu Jingxuan expertly opened two bottles of alcohol and placed them on the table. "The classic game: Truth or Dare."

"Either chug a bottle in thirty seconds, or answer a truth question."

Not a strong drinker, Yan Zhen hesitated. "What's the truth question?"

Yan Zhao glanced at the slightly inebriated Lu Jingxuan and warned, "Behave yourself."

Knowing that Lu Jingxuan was prone to telling off-color jokes when drunk, Yan Zhao couldn't let him ask his sister inappropriate questions.

"Of course, what do you take me for?" Lu Jingxuan waved his hand dismissively. "Tonight, we're keeping it pure. Pure love. Very innocent, pure love."

"Who was your first crush, and what are they doing now?" He asked, a hint of excitement in his voice. "See? Pure love, right? Who's going first?"

Chen Huaixu picked up a bottle, giving a quiet nod.

"Forget it, I knew you wouldn't crack," Lu Jingxuan said, checking his watch. "Time starts now!"

Chen Huaixu, clearly unfazed by the alcohol, downed the bottle without a change in expression.

It was Yan Zhen's turn. She hesitated. "I…"

Before she could finish, a hand reached out and grabbed the other bottle. The group began to whistle and cheer as Chen Huaixu tilted his head back and emptied the bottle in one go.

Yan Zhen stared at him, surprised.

A few drops of alcohol trickled down his lips as he swallowed, tracing a glistening path down his neck and catching the light on his bobbing Adam's apple.

It was strangely alluring.

In less than thirty seconds, Chen Huaixu had finished the second bottle. He turned it upside down, demonstrating that it was empty. The group erupted in applause. He raised an eyebrow, a rare flash of playful sharpness in his usually calm features.

It reminded Yan Zhen of the summer they first met, on the sweltering basketball court.

"Alright, alright," Lu Jingxuan said, recognizing that Chen Huaixu was rescuing Yan Zhen. "You're a hero. A real knight in shining armor."

Yan Zhen returned to her seat beside Chen Huaixu, frowning. "You didn't have to drink. I could have answered the question."

"I didn't want to hear it," he said quietly. "Is that okay?"

Yan Zhen sensed a strange undercurrent in his voice, as if he were sulking.

But it was odd. She hadn't forced him to drink.